Bettas are intelligent, curious fish. In their natural habitats, they roam and hunt in their territory, looking for insects and their larvae.
So it’s no surprise that they might get bored living in an aquarium with limited space and almost no opportunity for hunting live prey.
Luckily, Bettas love having some toys and decorations in their tank which can help them stay mentally stimulated, happy, and active.
In today’s article, I’ll lay out the benefits of having toys and decorations for your Betta and what to look out for when choosing them.
And then, at the end I’ll show you some of the best toys and decorations available today.
Betta Fish Toys & Decoration Overview
Best Toys & Decorations for Betta Fish Reviewed
Let’s go through the best betta toys and decorations and discuss their benefits.
1. Abeshdown Marimo Moss Balls Live Aquarium Plant
Abeshdown’s live marimo plant balls are an inexpensive, effective way to stimulate your fish and improve its wellbeing.
Bettas enjoy swimming around in between moss balls and even pushing them around the tank sometimes.
Marimos are called moss balls, but are actually a form of slow-growing algae, and with proper care, they can live to be over 100 years old.
Marimos help filter your tank water by trapping solid wastes. You can squeeze them out into a bucket of dechlorinated water a few times a month and wash out the fish poop and uneaten food that gets trapped inside the ball.
Make sure the balls get turned at least once a week to ensure that all sides get some light.
2. Zoo Med Laboratories Betta Hammock
In the wild, Bettas will often rest on top of leaves that are near the surface of the water. That way, they can take a little snooze but stay closer to the water’s edge where there is more oxygen.
Betta hammocks give your fish a secure resting place within the aquarium. It’s best to place them in an area that gets little to no water flow so your Betta doesn’t have to work to stay on the leaf.
Put the hammock about two inches down from the water line. The water is better oxygenated there and it’s only a short swim up to the surface if your Betta wants a gulp of air.
3. Betta Leaves by SunGrow
These are Indian almond leaves. Betta breeders throughout Asia use these leaves as a form of natural water softener.
Indian almond leaves leach tannins and flavonoids into the water that are anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiviral and even anti-inflammatory.
These compounds also lower the pH of the water, mimicking a Betta’s natural habitat.
These leaves will float for a few days before they become waterlogged and sink. Male Bettas love to build their bubble nests beneath them.
Just be aware, tannins will give your water a slight brown tint.
4. Zoo Med Floating Betta Log
Betta fish love to spend time at the surface of water. Zoo Med’s floating log, made from real wood, gives your fish a place to hide and play near the water’s surface.
The log is entirely natural, free from harmful chemicals. That way it won’t upset your aquarium’s water parameters.
Additionally, the log has a hole in the top for feeding, as your fish are likely to spend a lot of time resting inside of the log. This log is a great place for Bettas to nap or just retreat to when they feel threatened.
5. Champion Sports Theme Ping Pong Balls
Champion Sports Ping Pong Balls are a great way to keep your Betta entertained.
There are several videos online showing Bettas pushing ping pong balls around the water’s surface. They’re really neat.
You can use any kind of ping pong ball you want, but I thought these sport themed balls were particularly cute, especially the little soccer balls.
You should limit access to the ping pong balls so that your fish doesn’t lose interest in them. An hour or so each day will let them get used to it, but still leave them wanting more instead of getting bored with the game.
6. Hygger Resin Hollow Tree Trunk Ornament
This resin tree trunk looks really natural and provides great hiding places and swim-through caves.
You could even attach some clinging live plants, like Java fern or anubias, that would make it look even more natural. They would grow over time and attach themselves to the log.
I like that this provides a fairly sizable cave for a Betta, and it’s easy for them to swim in and out since both ends are open.
7. Zoo Med Floating Betta Exercise Mirror
Giving a male Betta a mirror is a time old technique to stimulate and exercise them. The fish will see his reflection and think it’s another male Betta.
He’ll then flare his fins and rush up to the reflection, trying to scare the other fish away.
I think this toy is a great idea, but please remember, you only want to let your Betta have access to the mirror for a few minutes once or twice a day.
Bettas are extremely territorial. These fish can hurt themselves by bumping into things for long periods of time as they go after the mirror.
A little bit of going after the mirror is fun and engaging. Flaring their fins can even help Bettas with their digestion.
But, going after the mirror for hours would be super stressful and potentially dangerous.
8. JIHAQUA Aquarium Ceramic Cave Decoration
This little ceramic cave has several swim-through holes and just enough space for a Betta to hide in.
I like that, because of the multiple entrances, a Betta would be able to swim back out of this no matter what angle they swam in from.
This is another piece of decor that you could anchor anubias or Java fern to.
Final Thoughts on Buying Betta Fish Toys
Toys and decorations are essential to the wellbeing of your Betta fish.
Being naturally aggressive to other fish, Bettas are best kept in isolation, therefore it is vital that they are kept entertained in other ways.
Caves, leaves, foliage and balls are all excellent additions which can work to stimulate your fish, boosting its wellbeing, reducing stress and creating an environment in which your Betta feels at home.
I especially like the ping pong balls and would get a kick out of seeing my fish playing with one of those.
I hope you find this article helpful.
I wish you and your fish the very best!
Benefits Having Toys & Decorations for Your Betta Tank
Let’s discuss the main benefits of having in tank accessories to keep your betta entertained.
Keeps Your Betta Stimulated
Just like us, fish get bored. Particularly Betta fish.
Bettas are kept in fairly small tanks, with few if any tank mates, because they are highly aggressive and territorial.
So, it’s easy for them to get bored from this lack of stimulation.
Adding toys to your tank can help stimulate your fish’s mind and body in a safe way.
Actively swimming through decor or pushing a ball around or flaring at a mirror engages their minds and the exercise is good for their muscles and digestion.
You can even buy a variety of toys and decor and rotate them around every few weeks or months to keep your Betta’s interest piqued.
Bettas Love Hiding Spots
New tanks can be intimidating.
Spending much of their early lives in tiny containers, no bigger than 1-cup, Betta fish can become afraid when added to new, larger enclosures. So they love to hide.
Introducing decorations to your tank gives your Betta fish opportunities to hide, allowing it the time to slowly become familiar with its surroundings.
Bettas often hide in the wild too, underneath logs or among plant leaves, in order to avoid predation by birds.
In the aquarium, Bettas are playful and find enjoyment in darting in and out of hiding places or swimming through holes in decor.
Bettas Love Lounging On Leaves
Bettas often live in stagnant waters in their natural habitat. Still waters have significantly lower oxygen levels than moving water.
Bettas like to lay on a plant leaf that’s close to the surface where there is more dissolved oxygen and where it’s a shorter trip to the surface for a gulp of air if they need it.
From these natural perches, Bettas can rest and after a hard day of being beautiful and having spectacular fins.
In the aquarium, Bettas will be glad to take a snooze on real or artificial plant leaves.
Whatever decor you choose, sharp edges should always be avoided. These can seriously harm your Betta, scratching or tearing fins and damaging their skin. You can try to sand down sharp edges with a rasp, but if something has a lot of sharp edges, it might be best to use something else.
